Dealer wished judge ‘Merry Xmas’

A DRUG dealer jailed on Christmas Eve wished the judge a ‘Merry Christmas’ before being taken away to serve his sentence.

Jordan Hankin, 21, a former Widnes worker who had an apprenticeship in the town, broke into the home of an 85-year-old woman with dementia during a period when he found himself sleeping rough and sofa surfing in Tameside.

He was also caught dealing cannabis and crack cocaine on the streets of Hattersley during that time.

But a barrister defending Hankin at Minshull Street Crown Court on December 24 told a judge his offending stemmed from difficulties which began when he was kicked out of home at 18.

As he was jailed for 38 months, Hankin thanked the judge, pumped his fist and wished him a ‘Merry Christmas’ during a videolink hearing from prison.

Prosecutor Brian Berlyne told the court how Hankin’s blood was discovered on the frame of a smashed window at his victim’s home back in July this year.

The dementia sufferer, who lives in Stalybridge, was asleep when Hankin broke into her home in the early hours of July 28 this year. Her son received a phonecall from a neighbour who feared the 85-year-old had been burgled.

When her son arrived at the house, he found that a large stone had been used to smash the window in the conservatory and a set of sliding doors to the lounge.

Nothing had been stolen, and the elderly victim was unaware, but the damage amounted to £500, Mr Berlyne said.

Four months later, just before 7pm on November 25, a police officer was called out to a disturbance in

Hattersley.

The officer saw six men who he pursued during a short chase before catching Hankin, who gave him a false name and date of birth.

Hankin was searched and the officer found 26 wraps of crack cocaine – around 2.12 grams – and 14 snap bags of cannabis, amounting to 17 grams, Mr Berlyne said.

Hankin’s home was searched and police found several mobile phones, a pair of weighing scales, cannabis grinders and a snapbag of powder.

The defendant was identified him from fingerprints and, during police interview, claimed that the drugs were for personal use.

Hankin, of Backbower Lane, in Hyde, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and crack cocaine with intent to supply, burglary with intent to steal and obstructing a police office.

Steven Sullivan, defending, explained that only three years previously Hankin had been living at home with his mum and was working as an apprentice bodyworker in Widnes.

However a ‘difficult relationship’ with his stepfather led to him being kicked out of home and he found himself living in a hostel.

He ended up homeless and self harming, Mr

Sullivan said.

“His world turned upside down.”

The barrister said Hankin was then ‘rescued’ by his uncle, who allowed him to move into his home in Hattersely and helped him find a job.

However, earlier this year, that relationship also broke down and Hankin became homeless and unemployed once again. His life spiralled out of control,” Mr Sullivan said. “Since then, things have gone from bad to worse.”

Hankin ended up living on the streets and ‘got involved with a criminal gang’ which led to him street dealing at a low level to survive, Mr Sullivan said.

He added that the drug dealing and burglary were carried out at the instruction’ of someone else.

Hankin is keen to turn his life around and hopes to educate himself in prison with a view to gaining employment when he is released, his barrister said.

“It’s a sad story,” he added.

“This will be his first taste of custody. We have a man before you who wishes to refrain and start afresh when he is released.”